Armored Core is a 1997 third-person shootermechvideo game developed by FromSoftware for the PlayStation. The game is the first entry in the Armored Core series. A digital port was released in 2007 in Japan and 2015 in North America on the PlayStation Network as a part of the PSone Classics line of games. The story introduces many elements that are commonly found in later game in the series, such as corporatocracies and mech robots known as "Armored Cores." The game takes place in a future Earth that has been wiped out by a cataclysm and forced humanity underground, a theme which would continue until Armored Core 4. Gameplay involves controlling Armored Cores in combat scenarios against other Cores and vehicles. Cores are highly modular, allowing players a great deal of customization over them, such as swapping out different leg units to gain speed advantages. As players complete more missions, they gain credits to purchase different items and parts for their Core.
Gameplay
In single player, players choose missions to engage enemies and earn credits. Within missions, the player navigates levels built on different kinds of terrain, ranging from desert bases to space stations. Levels are extremely open, forcing the player to look around for enemies that can appear from all directions. Like many shooters, the primary weapon types available for use are guns, rocket launchers, lasers, missiles, and swords which can be customized at will based on player purchases. Ammunition and repair costs are deducted from mission rewards, and mission failure still penalizes the player with these deductions. As the player progresses through missions, the pay increases, but choosing specific missions can lock others down, creating a branching path through the story that can be noticeably different on subsequent play sessions. These missions can have positive or negative consequences on the world, though often the impact is not fully known until the end of a mission. Outside of its single player campaign, the game features a local split screen multiplayer mode. Both players can use their own memory cards to load their personal Armored Cores and fight each other. The mode can take advantage of a PlayStation Link Cable to connect two separate PlayStations together and play on different television sets.
Plot
The vast majority of Earth's population is wiped out by a cataclysmic war known as the "Great Destruction." The harsh conditions that result force the few remaining survivors to live underground for fifty years, during which time corporations come to power. The two largest corporations, Chrome and Murakumo Millennium, constantly battle each other for supremacy, causing significant strife among the populace. However, the competition provides endless opportunities for mercenaries called Ravens, who exist independently of the corporations. The player is a Raven and pilots an Armored Core, powerful mecha robots that fight for the highest bidder.
Release
Armored Core was initially released in Japan for the Sony PlayStation on July 10, 1997. FromSoftware partnered with Sony Computer Entertainment and released a North American version on October 25, 1997, while a European version was released on June 1, 1998. As a part of Sony's PSone Classics banner, Armored Core was re-released in Japan for the PlayStation 3 on July 26, 2007. In North America, the game was re-released on March 24, 2015 for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation Vita. Armored Core was announced as a title for the Japanese release of the PlayStation Classic on October 29, 2018. It was released over a month later on December 3. The game has not been released on PlayStation Classic consoles in other regions.
Reception
The game received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 28 out of 40. Reviewers praised the gameplay of Armored Core, highlighting the depth of customization options afforded to the player. Game Revolution's Nebojsa Radakovic wrote, "A ballpark figure for possible combinations is in the very high millions," and added, "The variety of weapons is also a definite plus." GameSpot's Joe Fielder similarly praised the depth of options available, stating, "Almost as charming as the gameplay are the upgradable options for the mech". The local multiplayer was positively received, with Radakovic calling it "a sure-fire recipe for intense death matches for the fate of the universe." Adam Douglas from IGN agreed, referring to the multiplayer as, "The real meat of the game". A common complaint from reviewers was the speed of turning. Both IGN and Next Generation commented on this, with Douglas describing it as his "only complaint". Game Revolution's Radakovic praised the graphics, writing they were "excellent with a high attention to detail." AllGame's Shawn Sackenheim agreed with this, describing, "Crisp texture maps with little pixelation and distortion carry visuals to a new level." Next Generation had a different outlook, stating, "while crisp, do lean a little to the bland side". GameSpot's Fielder wrote, "Its graphics... are fitting and workable." Reviewers both praised and criticized the soundtrack, which was described as being fitting and lacking depending on the source. Game Informer's consensus was that, "All the sounds are appropriate and the soundtrack is as thumping as it can get." Game Revolution's Radakovic disagreed, writing, "there is little to no background music in the game; so mostly all you hear is the sound of gunfire and metallic footsteps." Armored Core's story was criticized as unoriginal and underdeveloped, while some reviewers also commented on the length of the campaign. Game Informer's Andy McNamara stated, "If you're looking for something with plot, you aren't going to find it here". IGN's Adam Douglas felt that the missions were "pretty straightforward". Game Revolution's Radakovic wrote that the developers "don’t get an award for plot originality" and mentioned that he felt the campaign was too short, saying, "50 missions may sound like a lot, but they can go by pretty quickly if you know what you’re doing."
Sequels and legacy
Armored Core is the first entry in a mech game series of the same name, and spawned many sequels, including ' and '. The making of Armored Core solidified FromSoftware's development skills, and in July 1999, they released the multiplayer action gameFrame Gride for the SegaDreamcast. The company's focus would shift from RPGs to mech games due in part to the success of the Armored Core series. In 2002, FromSoftware released the mech action game for the Xbox. In 2004, they released another Xbox title, Metal Wolf Chaos. In 2005, FromSoftware would start to produce a series of licensed games based on the various anime properties under the banner Another Century's Episode.
